Filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s critically acclaimed Black Panther continues its historic run-up into theaters, outpacing all previous movies released in the first quarter in terms of advance ticket sales on market leader Fandango.
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Fandango reported Wednesday that at the same point in the sales cycle, Black Panther is on track to pass 2012’s The Hunger Games and 2017’s Beauty And The Beast. The tentpole, starring Chadwick Boseman, is also pacing to be Fandango’s top preseller among all superhero titles. It hits theaters on Feb. 16.

The first licensed African American Female pilot was named Bessie Coleman. Bessie Coleman was born in Atlanta, Texas in 1892. At the age of 23, she moved to Chicago seeking opportunity and fortune to escape her world of harsh poverty, discrimination, and segregation. Hearing stories from soldiers who flew in WWI, she was inspired to take up aviation. Unfortunately, being black and a woman it was not looking good for her.

In 1920 she decided to grab all her savings, received help from Robert Abbot, one of the first African American millionaires, and traveled to France to learn to be a pilot and study French. In June of 1921, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale awarded her an international pilot's license. When Bessie Coleman returned to the United States, she was greeted by reporters from all over.

Max Fleischer, the cartoonist and creator of Betty Boop, introduced the character to the world in 1930, after being inspired by the jazz age flapper Esther Jones.

Esther went by the name "Baby Esther" and performed at the Cotton Club in the 1920's. Baby Esther’s trademark vocal style of using “boops” and other childlike scat sounds attracted the attention of actress Helen Kane during a performance in the late 1920s. Eventually, Helen would go on to adopt Esther's singing and performing style.

When Betty Boop was introduced to the world, Kane would try to sue Max Fleischer and Paramount Publix Corporation stating he was using her image. It was later revealed via video evidence of Baby Esther performing dated prior to Kane, that Jones was the real Betty Boop. Today Betty Boop may be a young white woman on TV, but the real Betty Boop is all #BlackGirlMagic.

When it comes to the Super Bowl, winning and losing is not exclusive to the on field action. Every year, companies big and small take huge chances while spending big dollars all in an effort to expose their brand to hundreds of millions of people watching. The ads can be funny or serious or just down right outrageous, but if people remember it the next day, it could mean more business for your brand.

That's where Pras comes in, the hip-hop star is banking on the success of his ads for Blackture, a new media platform that looks to help 'push black culture forward.'

Pras, a former member of the group Fugees, bought a 30-second spot to announce the launch of Blacture, a “platform for black culture in America.” The ad, which airs during the third quarter of Sunday’s game, positions Blacture as a place where everyone can “come and see the story” about the state of black America today.

Blacture looks to be the go-to destination for unique content from prominent artists and influencers, a place where stories that are untold or underreported in mass media can find a home. Pras believes the now is the time to put black culture center stage. “He wants black Americans to recognize and embrace the opportunity he believes is right in front of them,” the campaign press release reads.

As for the Super Bowl Ad, it is a collaboration between Pras, director Antoine Fuqua of Training Day and Southpaw fame, creative agency McKinney and purpose-driven marketing shop Leijas of New York.

​As for Blacture, interested parties will have to wait until the platform launches next month.

Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013) was a South African political activist who spent over 20 years in prison for his opposition to the apartheid regime; he was released in 1990. In 1994, Mandela was later elected the first leader of a democratic South Africa. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (jointly with F.W. de Klerk) in 1993 for his work in helping to end racial segregation in South Africa. He is considered the father of a democratic South Africa and widely admired for his ability to bring together a nation, previously divided by apartheid. Nelson Mandela is one of the most admired political leaders of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Century for his vision to forgive and forge a new ‘rainbow’ nation.

Mandela is just one of the many people of color who have contributed to making this world a better place. Throughout the month of February, Logik Radio will celebrate Black History Month by spotlighting those who have had a positive effect on history. We can all learn from the great thing people of color have done in the past and continue to do in the present.